Transmission

Chikungunya transmission cycle. In the center, there is a circle with a woman standing at the top and a man at the bottom, and a mosquito sits on the left and right sides. The images are connected by four arrows to represent how chikungunya cycles between mosquitoes and humans. Mosquitoes become infected with chikungunya when they feed on an infected person

Chikungunya virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. People are the primary host of chikungunya virus during epidemic periods. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person who already has the virus.

Blood-borne transmission of chikungunya virus is possible; cases have been documented among laboratory personnel handling infected blood and a healthcare provider drawing blood from an infected patient.

Rare in utero transmission has been documented, mostly during the second trimester. Intrapartum transmission has also been documented when the mother was viremic around the time of delivery. Chikungunya virus has not been found in breast milk and there have been no reports to date of infants acquiring chikungunya virus infection through breastfeeding. Because the benefits of breastfeeding likely outweigh the risk of chikungunya virus infection in breastfeeding infants, mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed even if they are infected with chikungunya virus or live in an area with ongoing virus transmission.

The risk of a person transmitting chikungunya virus to a biting mosquito or through blood is highest when the patient is viremic during the first week of illness.

Avoid getting sick with chikungunya by preventing mosquito bites.